Дракула

           Now,supposeI,whohavemuchofaffairs,wishtoshipgoods,say,toNewcastle,orDurham,orHarwich,orDover,mightitnotbethatitcouldwithmoreeasebedonebyconsigningtooneintheseports?" 

           Iansweredthatcertainlyitwouldbemosteasy,butthatwesolicitorshadasystemofagencyonefortheother,sothatlocalworkcouldbedonelocallyoninstructionfromanysolicitor,sothattheclient,simplyplacinghimselfinthehandsofoneman,couldhavehiswishescarriedoutbyhimwithoutfurthertrouble. 

           "But,"saidhe,"Icouldbeatlibertytodirectmyself. Isitnotso?" 

           "Ofcourse,"Ireplied,and"Suchisoftendonebymenofbusiness,whodonotlikethewholeoftheiraffairstobeknownbyanyoneperson." 

           "Good!"hesaid,andthenwentontoaskaboutthemeansofmakingconsignmentsandtheformstobegonethrough,andofallsortsofdifficultieswhichmightarise,butbyforethoughtcouldbeguardedagainst. Iexplainedallthesethingstohimtothebestofmyability,andhecertainlyleftmeundertheimpressionthathewouldhavemadeawonderfulsolicitor,fortherewasnothingthathedidnotthinkoforforesee. Foramanwhowasneverinthecountry,andwhodidnotevidentlydomuchinthewayofbusiness,hisknowledgeandacumenwerewonderful. Whenhehadsatisfiedhimselfonthesepointsofwhichhehadspoken,andIhadverifiedallaswellasIcouldbythebooksavailable,hesuddenlystoodupandsaid, "HaveyouwrittensinceyourfirstlettertoourfriendMr.PeterHawkins,ortoanyother?" 

           ItwaswithsomebitternessinmyheartthatIansweredthatIhadnot,thatasyetIhadnotseenanyopportunityofsendingletterstoanybody.